Green questions loss to tainted Tarver

Green questions loss to tainted Tarver - The West Australian

UPDATE 8pm: Danny Green tonight spoke of his shock at news former rival Antonio Tarver had failed a drug test - and questioned the legitimacy of the American's victory over him in their fight 11 months ago.

Green also voiced concern at how Taver got down to the 90.7kg cruiserweight limit for their bout after looking considerably heavier when the pair toured Australia to promote the fight just two months beforeheand.

Green was clubbed to a shocking defeat in that International Boxing Organisation cruiserweight title defence at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, with the West Aussie's corner pulling him out at the end of the ninth round, bloodied and stumbling to the wrong corner after the bell.

While there is no evidence Tarver was "juiced" for that fight, questions will now be asked following today's revelation that Tarver tested positive for the anabolic steroid drostanoine earier this month from a pre-fight urine test before his draw with Lateef Kayode in Carson, California.

"I'm shocked," Green told thewest.com.au. "But it does make you think.

"When he came over for the promo tour he looked much bigger. Yet he was able to lose, I'd say, around 25kg in eight weeks - yet how did he keep that strength?

"A lot of people on Twitter and the internet are now asking questions about our fight. Dan Rafael, ESPN's boxing writer and well-respected analyst in America, said 'Green had never been hurt like that before the Tarver fight'.

"I hear the IBO has stripped him - so is it still a loss on my career?

"He has tarnished his reputation and he has got himself in a whole world of trouble. He has got to live with this forever.

"He's wanted to lose weight the easy way. I know what it is to strip weight, extreme weight - I had to lose 10kg I didn't have to fight Anthony Mundine.

"It's hard and it takes strict discipline."

Green, who is preparing for his 12-round clash against Danny Santiago in Perth on July 25, also expressed sympathy for Kayode, for whom the meeting with Tarver was his first high-profile occasion.

The test was carried out by the California State Athletic Commission, with the governing body suspending Tarver until the result of his 'B' sample is confirmed and fining him $2500. The former world light-heavyweight champion was reportedly paid $1 million for the 12-round bout.

Tarver was also dropped by Showtime from his other role as a TV ringside analyst for Saturday night's welterweight clash between Victor Ortiz and Josesito Lopez in Los Angeles.

After the news broke 43-year-old Tarver said he would appeal against the result, saying it was false.

"Today's news of a false positive caught me as well as my family and supporters by surprise, I apologize for the embarrassment it caused," he tweeted.

"I'll appeal and submit to the California Commission everything that I've consume prior to June 2 that could of caused this honest mistake."

Tarver's positive test is another blow for the sport, which has seen two other high-profile Americans - welterweight Andre Berto and light-welter Lamont Peterson - test positive for drugs this year.

US promoter Gary Shaw expressed his concern about the damage the positive tests were doing to boxing.

"It’s very worrisome where our sport is heading these days with the recent array of fighters testing positive for banned substances," Shaw told USA Today.

"With all these fights being cancelled its killing the sport and I hope the networks are not going to lose interest. As promoters, we do our best to make sure everyone is abiding by the rules. I’m happy that the commissions are stepping up their stance on catching fighters cheating because the safety of the fighter should always come first.

"Something needs to be done and major changes need to be made, and the time is now. The boxing business is getting worse by the day and we are losing fans by the minute."